Rafaela Gonzalez: Championing Inclusion and Clean Beauty for Women of Color
In an industry that often excludes women of color and fails to cater to their beauty needs, Gloryscent’s mission is to provide all women with healthier, more personalized alternatives to the harsh and often damaging active ingredients in mainstream products. Born out of founder Rafaela Gonzalez’s desire to serve and empower underrepresented women of color, Gloryscent is a pro-melanin skin-care brand that centers inclusivity and clean beauty.
Growing up in an environment that valued European standards of beauty, Rafaela Gonzalez was often made to feel self-conscious about her textured hair and darker skin. However, her self-love and acceptance journey ultimately led her to create Gloryscent as a response to the lack of representation and inclusivity in the beauty industry. Gonzalez wanted to create a brand in which women of color were not an afterthought but the inspiration behind the skincare products.
Gloryscent is more than just a brand that centers women of color; it focuses on providing safe and clean beauty products that are free from toxic ingredients. During the process of creating Gloryscent, Gonzalez learned that many mainstream products marketed towards women of color contained harmful chemicals. Unfortunately, the harmful effects of these chemicals disproportionately impact women of color, as one study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology found.
In response to this, Gonzalez’s mission expanded to stand for inclusivity in clean beauty, providing women of color with access to products that are safe and effective. As a Dominican Republic-born woman, Gonzalez takes inspiration from her Caribbean roots to serve as the basis for many of her products. By highlighting ingredients from her ancestral home, Gonzalez hopes to honor her beloved country.
For example, the Behold Brightening Balm ($96) is made with neem oil, derived from trees that Gonzalez grew up seeing on the island. “When I was a little girl, we had two large neem trees in my backyard. I remember my late grandmother swiping them up into piles when they ripened and fell to the ground,” she says. By using natural ingredients like neem oil, arnica flower extract, willow bark, and organic ginseng, Gloryscent provides its customers with nutrient-packed products that soothe sun-damaged skin, promote exfoliation, and help soften fine lines.
However, Gloryscent is more than just a collection of products. Rafaela Gonzalez believes that effective skincare is about having a routine instead of just using one or two products. As such, Gloryscent offers customers the Soothing Enzyme Cleansing Gel ($56), Total Body Serum ($63), Urbana Elixir ($54), and Manketti Oil Serum ($62), all made using the natural elements mentioned previously.
When asked about her biggest achievement so far, Gonzalez says that having her products in JCPenney stores through the support of the Thirteen Lune ecommerce site was “huge.” However, Gonzalez is most proud of the speaking series she’s hosting this year titled “Let’s Talk Inclusion in Clean Beauty.” The series features interviews with various founders and organizations that highlight the importance of raising awareness about the toxic ingredients in self-care products marketed to Latinx women and other women of color.
“This is with the intention to simply educate and not fearmonger,” Gonzalez says. “Knowledge is power.” By raising awareness about the need for cleaner and more inclusive skincare products, Gloryscent is shaping a future where all women, regardless of their skin color, feel seen, valued, and cared for.
As women become more conscious of their skincare choices, Gloryscent offers a refreshing alternative to traditional beauty brands that caters to all women, no matter their skin color. With Gonzalez championing inclusivity, clean ingredients, and effective skincare, Gloryscent will continue to carve out its place in the ever-changing beauty industry.
